Our Research

Our multidisciplinary research covers diverse topics

Decision-making

We consider why some species, humans included, adopt distinct, species-specific decision strategies (at the ultimate level) 

Social learning, innovation, and cultural evolution

We explore the building blocks of cumulative culture in humans and other animals. How do social learning strategies change across the lifespan and what shapes these in nonhuman animals? What cognitive abilities underpin innovative behaviour?

Cognitive development

We investigate how cognitive ability, decision-strategies and social behaviours change across lifespan in different species. 

Multi-species interaction, conservation & welfare

We aim to harness our research to both enhance conservation efforts in the wild and influence positive conservation behaviours in zoo visitors. 

Current Projects

We are involved in multiple projects
Squirrel Monkey
Mapping risk preferences and their relationship with social and ecological behaviours across primates – with the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and the University of St Andrews
marmoset monkey
Designing more ecologically valid apparatus for cognitive testing – with CBC, Newcastle University
capuchin monkey
The evolution and development of third-party punishment – with VU Amsterdam
Baboons
The role of social learning strategies in cultural evolution and across the lifespan
The relationship between cognitive/behavioural studies and conservation science
chimpanzee
How social networks change over time – with the Budongo Research Unit, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and University of St Andrews

Research-Lead Teaching & PGR Research

We teach a wide range of UG/PGR courses and supervise PGR students

UG Teaching

  • PSY1015: Principles of Evolution, Genetics, and behavioural development
  • PSY2001: Developmental Psychology
  • PSY2020: Introduction to comparative cognition and behaviour
  • PSY3052: The science behind our choice: decision-making across species and societies
  • PSY3044: Cultural and Technical Intelligence: Developmental and Comparative Perspectives
  • MMB8034: Comparative Cognition: Information Processing in Humans and Other Animals

PGR Research

  • MRes Animal Behaviour : Dissertation - Supervised 6 projects
  • MRes Human Evolution: Dissertation - Supervised 4 projects
  • MSc Clinical Foundations: Dissertation - Supervised 6 projects
  • PhD Student: So-supervised student to completion with Professor Aileen Mill, Newcastle University - Maximising the utility of primate GPS datasets for exploring behaviour (submitted 2025)
  • PhD Student: IAPETUS co-supervised with Durham